JPH07223512A - Vehicle mirror device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a vehicle mirror device in which a removal mechanism using an elastic surface wave generating device is applied to remove water drips, etc., adhering to the surface of a mirror, and also a vehicle mirror whereby water drips, etc., can be removed securely from the surface of the mirror by small electric input power to the removal mechanism using the elastic surface wave generating device. CONSTITUTION:An elastic surface wave generating device 61 is installed so that an elastic surface wave is propagated to the surface of a mirror 31 so as to face its axial direction in the vertical direction of a mirror. Then, the elastic surface wave generated by the elastic surface wave generating device 61 is propagated onto the surface of the mirror 31 by the operation of a removal mechanism so as to eliminate water drips adhering to the surface of the mirror 31.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the Invention]

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle mirror device having a function of removing water droplets and the like adhering to the mirror surface by the operation of a removing mechanism.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a mechanism for removing water drops and the like, one using a piezoelectric vibration generator (composed of a piezoelectric vibrator) and a piezoelectric surface acoustic wave generator (comb-tooth-shaped set The one using an electrode and a piezoelectric layer) is known. Applying the removal mechanism using this vibration generator,
A window device for a vehicle that vibrates the windshield to remove water droplets and the like adhering to the surface of the windshield (JP-A-53-23).
No. 438) or a mirror device for a vehicle, which removes water droplets adhering to the mirror surface by vibrating the mirror (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 63-2).
No. 5658) has been proposed, and a removal mechanism using a surface acoustic wave generator is applied to propagate a surface acoustic wave to the wind glass surface to remove water droplets and the like adhering to the wind glass surface. A window (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-15146) has been proposed.

[0004]

However, there has not yet been proposed a technique in which a surface acoustic wave generator is used as a mechanism for removing water droplets or the like adhering to the mirror surface.

Therefore, the present invention provides a mirror device for a vehicle in which a removing mechanism using a surface acoustic wave generator is applied to remove water droplets and the like adhering to the mirror surface, and removing using the surface acoustic wave generator. It is a technical object of the present invention to provide a vehicle mirror device in which water drops and the like are reliably removed from the mirror surface by a small electric input power to the mechanism.

[0006]

[Constitution of the invention]

[0007]

The technical means taken to solve the above technical problems in the present invention is capable of propagating a surface acoustic wave to a mirror held in a substantially vertical state outside the vehicle and to the surface of the mirror. And a removal mechanism using a surface acoustic wave generator mounted on the mirror to generate the surface acoustic wave. More preferably, the removing mechanism is mounted on the mirror surface vertically above the mirror.

More preferably, the removing mechanism is mounted so that the axial direction of the surface acoustic wave generator is perpendicular to the mirror.

More preferably, the removing mechanism is mounted so that the axial direction of the surface acoustic wave generator faces the substantially central portion of the mirror surface.

[0010]

According to the above technical means, when the removing mechanism is operated, the surface acoustic wave generated by the surface acoustic wave generator is propagated to the mirror surface. When the energy of this surface acoustic wave is input to the water droplets attached to the mirror surface, the water droplets try to move with respect to the mirror surface, resulting in the water droplets flowing. It is scattered or atomized. Therefore, water drops and the like attached to the mirror surface are removed. Further, the surface acoustic wave generated by the surface acoustic wave generator is propagated in the direction perpendicular to the mirror,
The movement of water droplets or the like with respect to the surface of the mirror is directed in the vertical direction of the mirror, where its own weight tends to act. Therefore, the water droplets and the like can be reliably removed from the mirror surface even with an electrical input power that does not cause the water droplets and the like to flow.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle door mirror device 1 is composed of a body 2 and a mirror assembly 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 2
Is supported by a door (not shown) of the vehicle through the stay 4, and has a hollow in which an opening 21 is formed. A known electric storage mechanism (not shown) may be arranged between the stay 4 and the body 2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mirror assembly 3 is composed of a mirror 31 composed of a front plate 31a made of a transparent material such as glass and a back plate 31b made of a reflective material such as aluminum, and a resin material. The holder 32 has a holding portion 32a formed on the periphery thereof, and the periphery of the mirror 31 is the holding portion 32a.
So that the back plate 31b is on the holder 31 side (front plate 31
The mirror 31 is held and fixed to the holder 32 so that a is exposed. By performing the water repellent treatment on the surface of the mirror 31, the performance of removing water drops by the operation of the removing mechanism 6 described later is improved. The mirror assembly 3 having the above-described structure is configured so that the opening 21 is closed in the body 2 and the mirror 31 is exposed from the opening 21 through the well-known electric angle adjusting mechanism 5 fixed in the body 2. Is supported in a substantially vertical state with respect to. The electric angle adjusting mechanism 5 adjusts the inclination angle of the mirror 31 with respect to the vehicle by its operation.

As shown in FIG. 4, the removing mechanism 6 comprises a surface acoustic wave generator 61 and a drive circuit 62.

The surface acoustic wave generator 61 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the mirror 31 (the front plate 31 is composed of a pair of electrodes 61a and 61b and a piezoelectric layer 61c.
On the surface (a) (the exposed surface on which the image is reflected), in the upper part of the mirror 31 in the vertical direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5), the entire width direction of the mirror 31 (horizontal direction in FIG. 5) is almost entirely covered. It is installed. The electrodes 61a and 61b are made of a conductive material such as aluminum and have a comb-like shape and alternate with each other. The electrodes 61a and 61b are arranged on the surface of the mirror 31 in the axial direction (the electrodes 61a and 6b).
The direction in which 1b alternates) is the vertical direction of the mirror 31. The piezoelectric layer 61c is made of a piezoelectric material such as zinc oxide and is deposited on the surface of the mirror 31 by sputtering or the like so as to coat the electrodes 61a and 61b. The electrodes 61a and 61b are deposited on the surface of the mirror 31 and the piezoelectric layer by sputtering or the like,
The electrodes 61a and 61b and the piezoelectric layer 61c are the insulating layer 61.
It is covered by d. In addition, the surface acoustic wave generator 6
1 has a size of about 2 mm, and the visibility of the mirror 31 is not hindered by mounting the surface acoustic wave generator 61 on the surface of the mirror 31. Further, in order to prevent the visibility of the mirror 31 from being impaired, the electrode 61
The a and 61b and the piezoelectric layer may be transparent or semi-transparent.
As shown in FIG. 4, the drive circuit 62 is turned on with an AC power supply (power supply obtained by converting the DC power supply of the vehicle with a converter) 62a,
The switch 62b to be turned off is arranged in series, and the electrode 61a is connected to one side of the AC power supply 62a and the electrode 61b is connected to the other side through the switch 62b.

The operation of the removing mechanism 6 will be described.

When the switch 62b is turned on and the removing mechanism 6 is operated, the electrodes 61a and 61b are energized so that the positive and negative polarities are alternately switched, the piezoelectric layer 61c expands and contracts, and the surface acoustic wave generator 61 generates elastic waves. A certain surface wave (surface acoustic wave) is generated on the surface of the piezoelectric layer 61c. The surface acoustic wave generated by the surface acoustic wave generator 61 is generated by the electrode 61.
Along the shape of a and 61b, the light is propagated over the entire surface of the mirror 31 in the axial direction of the electrodes 61a and 61b, that is, in the vertical direction of the mirror 31. When the energy of the surface acoustic wave propagated to the surface of the mirror 31 is input to the water droplets adhering to the surface of the mirror 31, the water droplets are reflected by this energy and the mirror 3
Trying to move in the direction perpendicular to the mirror 31 with respect to the surface of 1,
As a result, the water droplets flow (scatter or atomize) due to the synergistic effect of this energy and the self-weight, whereby the mirror 31
Water droplets are removed from the entire surface of the mirror (dropped from the surface of the mirror 31).

As described above, since the water droplets attached to the surface of the mirror 31 are removed from the surface of the mirror 31, the visibility of the mirror 31 is improved. Further, since the surface acoustic wave generator 61 constituting the removing mechanism 6 which is a source of the force for removing the water droplets extends over substantially the entire widthwise direction of the mirror 31, the water droplets are removed from the entire surface of the mirror 31 and the mirror 31 is visually recognized. Sex is improved.

Further, as described above, the surface acoustic waves generated by the surface acoustic wave generator 61 and propagated to the surface of the mirror 31 cause water droplets attached to the surface of the mirror 31 to flow mainly to the surface of the mirror 31. Since the water is removed from the surface of the mirror 31, it is not necessary to subject the entire mirror 31 to bending vibrations or the like to remove water droplets, and cracks or the like are less likely to occur in the mirror 31. Further, this also reduces the need for special strengthening of the mirror 31, such as chemical strengthening, thereby reducing the cost. Further, fine water droplets are also removed by the flow of the water droplets, so that the removal residue of the water droplets from the surface of the mirror 31 can be reduced. Further, even if the water droplets removed from the surface of the mirror 31 collect on the step portion between the surface of the mirror 31 and the holding portion 32a of the holder 32, the water droplets are blown up and redeposit on the surface of the mirror 31. There is no fear that the operation of the removing mechanism 6 can always ensure good visibility. Further, no operating noise is generated by the accumulated water droplets.

Further, as described above, the surface acoustic wave generator 61 mounted on the surface of the mirror 31 includes the pair of electrodes 61.
Since it is composed of a and 61b and the film-like piezoelectric layer 61c, the weight increase as the mirror assembly 3 is suppressed, and the mounting of the surface acoustic wave generator 61 adversely affects the chattering performance of the surface of the mirror 31. There is no such thing. or,
The increase of the occupied space in the body 2 is also suppressed, and the mounting of the surface acoustic wave generator 61 does not adversely affect the disposition of the electric angle adjustment mechanism 5 and the like.

Moreover, as described above, since the surface acoustic wave, which is the force for removing the water droplets, is propagated to the surface of the mirror 31, even if a heater or the like is attached to the back surface of the mirror 31 (the back plate 31b side). However, the attenuation of surface acoustic waves is reduced, and the arrangement of the heater and the like is simplified. Further, the holding structure of the holder 32 and the mirror 31 (the structure of the holding portion 31) does not attenuate the structure, and the holding structure is simplified.

Moreover, as described above, since the surface acoustic wave generator 61 for generating the surface acoustic wave is mounted on the upper part of the mirror 31 so that its axial direction is perpendicular to the mirror 31, the surface acoustic wave is generated. The wave is propagated in the vertical direction of the mirror 31, and the movement of water droplets or the like on the mirror surface is directed in the vertical direction of the mirror where its own weight tends to act. Therefore, the energy that surface acoustic waves give to water droplets is
The water droplets only have to give a motive to move with respect to the surface of the mirror 31, and after the movement, the self-weight acts.
The water droplets can be reliably removed from the surface of the mirror 31 even with an electric input power that causes the water droplets to flow less. Further, even when the vehicle is stopped, the water droplets can be reliably removed from the surface of the mirror 31.

As shown in FIG. 7, the surface acoustic wave generator 61 may be attached to the mirror 31 at substantially the center thereof. In this case, the raindrops below the surface acoustic wave generator 61 are removed by the synergistic effect of the energy of the surface acoustic waves and its own weight, and the raindrops above are removed by its own weight. Also, as shown in FIG.
It may be attached to the upper corner of the mirror 31. In this case, water droplets in the central portion of the mirror 31, which is important for ensuring the visibility of the mirror 31, can be reliably removed by the small number and small surface acoustic wave generator 61. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a pair of electrodes 61 of the surface acoustic wave generator 61 is used.
A set of a and 61b may be plural. Accordingly, even if one set of electrodes 61a, 61b fails due to a short circuit or the like, a surface acoustic wave can be reliably generated by the other set of electrodes 61a, 61b. The plurality of sets of electrodes 61a and 61b may be applied to FIGS. 7 and 8.

As shown in FIG. 10, the electrodes 61a may be formed in a plate shape and arranged on the piezoelectric layer 61. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the arrangement of the electrodes 61a and 61b and the piezoelectric layer 61c with respect to the mirror 31 may be opposite to the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, and as shown in FIG. The arrangement of 61b with respect to the mirror 31 may be opposite to the arrangement shown in FIG.

[0025]

According to the present invention, a surface acoustic wave generated by a surface acoustic wave generator and propagated to the mirror surface causes water droplets adhering to the mirror surface to flow, scatter or atomize onto the mirror surface. Since it is removed from the surface, the visibility of the mirror can be improved by removing this water droplet.
Further, it is not necessary to subject the entire mirror to bending vibrations or the like to remove water droplets, and the risk of cracking of the mirror can be reduced. Furthermore, fine water droplets are removed by the flow of the water droplets, and the removal residue of the water droplets from the mirror surface can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, since the surface acoustic wave generator for generating the surface acoustic wave is mounted on the upper part of the mirror in the vertical direction so that the axial direction thereof is the vertical direction of the mirror,
The surface acoustic wave may be propagated in the vertical direction of the mirror once, and the movement of water droplets or the like with respect to the mirror surface may be directed in the vertical direction of the mirror where its own weight easily acts. As a result, the energy given to the water droplet by the surface acoustic wave may be such that the water droplet gives a motive to move with respect to the surface of the mirror, and moreover, the self-weight acts after the movement.
Therefore, it is possible to reliably remove the water droplets from the mirror surface with an electric input power that does not cause the water droplets to flow.
Can be done economically. Further, even when the vehicle is stopped, water droplets can be reliably removed from the mirror surface.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle mirror device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a mirror assembly of the vehicle mirror device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a removing mechanism of a vehicle mirror device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a mounting state of the surface acoustic wave generator of the removing mechanism of the vehicle mirror device according to the present invention on the mirror.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a modified example of the surface acoustic wave generator of the removing mechanism for the vehicle mirror device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a modified example of the surface acoustic wave generator of the removing mechanism for the vehicle mirror device according to the present invention.

9 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a modified example of the surface acoustic wave generator of the removing mechanism of the vehicle mirror device according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a modified example of the surface acoustic wave generator of the removing mechanism for the vehicle mirror device according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a modified example of the surface acoustic wave generator of the removing mechanism of the vehicle mirror device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a modified example of the surface acoustic wave generator of the removing mechanism for the vehicle mirror device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Removal Mechanism 31 Mirror 61 Surface Acoustic Wave Generator

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Chiaki Yamada 2-1-1 Asahi-cho, Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A removal method using a mirror that is held in a substantially vertical state outside a vehicle, and a surface acoustic wave generator that is mounted on the mirror and that generates the surface acoustic wave so that the surface acoustic wave can propagate to the surface of the mirror. A mirror device for a vehicle having a mechanism. 2. The vehicle mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the removing mechanism is mounted on a surface of the mirror vertically above the mirror. 3. The vehicle mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the removing mechanism is mounted such that an axial direction of the surface acoustic wave generator is perpendicular to the mirror. 4. The vehicle mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the removing mechanism is mounted so that an axial direction of the surface acoustic wave generator faces a substantially central portion of the mirror surface.